The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 21, 1980, Page Page 6, Image 6
Kennedy's slump
long overdue
Maybe the Kennedy name is just losing its mystique. Or maybe the
American people are wising up to the presidential candidate. Whatever
the case, both are long overdue.
KENNEDY'S WANING popularity has been especially felt in the last
few weeks. In Illinois, Senator Edward Kennedy's downward spiral is
the most visible. Illinois is where his brother, John F. Kennedy,
achieved his 1960 victory, thanks to the votes provided by Chicago
r>:~U i 1 A.. I ?l 'I ' > .......
mnjui iy 11.1 icti u . onict-' men, mere nas Deen ct special linK Deiwcen
the Kennedys and Chicago. Not any more.
The heirs of Daley don't even bother to hide their doubt with the
Teddy Kennedy alliance. "He's in trouble," according to George Dunne,
president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and chairman of
the Democratic organization. "And soare we."
The endorsement Kennedy won earlier from Chicago Mayor Jane
Byrne has also turned sour.
Part of it is due to the Iran and Afghanistan crises, which have thrown
over Kennedy's campaigning everywhere. The Chicago organization
has a history of rallying behind embattling presidents during all controversial
issues ? even the Vietnam War.
LAST YVEKK in New Jersey, two women and a man were arrested for
throwing eggs at the Massachusetts senator. The volley of eggs missed
Kennedy and splattered on three Secret Service agents. The three were
protesting the slaying of Communist Workers Party members in
Greensboro, N.C.
But the Communist Workers Party are by no means the only ones
showing displeasure toward the presidential candidate. Another egg
throwing scene occurred in Chicago (where else?) on Nov. 8. Demonstrators
hit him with an egg but it bounced unbroken off his shoulder.
Kennedy's showing in Iowa is also under a tone of pessimism and
uncertainty. After nine weeks and 5,000 miles, Kennedy has crisscrossed
the state looking for support.
AFTER ALL that time i?nd mileage, it's still impossible to say how
well (or how badly) he'll do. The polls aren't too encouraging. Part of
the problem is Kennedy's toned-down speeches. He's gotten little
reaction as a result.
But probably more than anything else casting a shadow on Kennedy's
campaign is new information on his account of the incident at Chappaquiddick.
The accident that killed his female companion, Mary Jo
Kopeehne more than a decade ago will continue to be a problem ? and a
very heated issue in his campaign.
Reports in February's Header's Digest have included a computer
analysis by research engineers that confirmed Kennedy's car was
driving recklessly < about '.M mph) when he plunged off the Dyke Bridge.
KENNEDY TESTIFIED he was going about 20 mph, an account
supported by^ie Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Registry's investigation
and a study*conducted for Kennedy by the Arthur D. Little consulting
firm. v
Stephen*Smith, Kennedy's campaign manager and brother-in-law,
criticized Reader's Digest for not giving the Kennedy staff a chance to
review the allegations. The magazine claims the staff turned down an
interview request.
The Washington Star reportedly has assembled satellite photographs
and other documents to show that the currents in a channel between
Chappaquiddick and Martha's Vineyard, which Kennedy said he was
unable to swim to rescue Kopechne, were not as the senator described
mem.
"The authoritative tidal study discloses that the current prevailing at
the time was quite weak and was flowing southward," the Digest article
stated. "Thus, the current would have carried Kennedy inland in a
direction exactly opposite from what he reports."
THE MOST shocking part of the entire Chappaquiddick incident has
long been known. Kennedy left Kopechne submerged in his car for 10
hours before reporting the accident.
Kennedy's presidential campaign staff has spent almost $10,000 on
experts to challenge studies contending he lied about Chappaquiddick.
Clearly, the evidence is not in Kennedy's favor.
THE LAST THING the Kennedy campaign needs now is a new wave
of reminders of Chappaquiddick. Or maybe, that's exactly what it
needs.
Qamscock Opinion
f iiiiihii'ii 1 908 ~~ ~ ~
Ton. Tmv.s Eduoi iiithiH Lj(?tt@rs
B,i...? n,.... ... - -
v^opy lm.'sk duel
. ,. r .1 >, t i The (iiimrcwk welcomes letters from its
Mu hdi.'l (><if)Cltiu| News t(lilor ..... .
readers All letters must be typewritten and
B"Mt Sports Editor triple spaced on a 65-space line and should l>e a
James Rokiis.iv Entertainment Editor . maximum of :rn words
1 lx'tters must be signed with the writer's
Robert An.hi Graphics Editor correct name, telephone, mailing address.
Jan..I Gibson Editorial Paye Editor I class standing and major Pseudonyms are
( unacceptable, hut the writer's name may be
Cylinder Calvert Wire Eduor withheld by request if circumstances warrant
Mark Piatt.- Assistant News Edito. We reserve the right to edit letters for space
I and style Address letters to: Campus Opinion.
Sieve Hidden Assistant Sports Editor The (iametoek. Drawer A. USC. Columbia.
Carl Babtork Graduate Assistani S.C. 29208
Anthony Gray Advertising Manager
Bill On,taw General Manage, CjOIU HI H S
William Imsley Production Manager ,
In an 4"
Advisl>1 ... v.iui. m increase reader input into
' " VIS<' future issues, the Gamecock offers a weekly
guest column
Newsroom /7//18I Columns must be limited to one newsworthy
Advertising i)t 4249 subject and must be no more than four typed
Busimkss OKii c ill ;j888 pages All columns must be typewritten and
triple spaced on a 65 space line All facts must
c . . , - be accurate. The editorial page editor
bolt' n 'i>'oilu( lion rights (iranted to tin? ,, . .., . . . ?
. l0 a.. . . . i reserves the right to reject any column for any
Associated Press All other material contained . ' . . , ,
reason and edit lor space, content, style and
herein m.iy not he reprinted without the r
accuracv
OeiinissiDii <>( ii?? ?'<ii"'
I Columns must be signed with correct name.
I Opinions expressed m the Gamecock are address, telephone, major and class standing
I those, i? signer! of the writer and if unsigned. or faculty position. Address columns to: Guest
I -of the stmK)'erfrtonaf stalf ! Column. The Gamecock. Drawer A. USC.
\ y j Columbia. S.C 29208
i
n - *?5KU?*r. /a/vft*i.L t??j?rv
Letters ~
Greeks asset to USC
and community
To the Kdilor:
I was extremely distressed by the distorted view of Greeks presented
by Chris Fancher. Mr. Fancher's letter expresses a narrow,
stereotypical view of a fraternity and sorority system, which in reality
contributes a great deal to the success of this University.
Greeks at Carolina comprise only 10 percent of the total undergraduate
student population; however, they excel in all areas of
student life and rrmtrihnto -
... .?utv ffnui tun (.unst'i vuuvt'iy uc cauea (i
disproportionate share to the achievements of the University.
As far as scholarship is concerned, Greeks set the pace for large
student organizations. The average fraternity G.P.R. is 2.478 while the
average of all non Greek men is 2.356. The averages of sororities and
unaffiliated women compare much along the same lines. These
averages have consistently demonstrated, that as a group, Greeks
place considerable importance on academics.
Greeks, both black and white, place a great deal of emphasis on
leadership. Consequently, Greeks hold many leadership positions on
pammic Thou ^1; : ? 1- '
a 11\*jf aa uivcisc in meir mieresis and strive to further the
University as a whole through participation. In fact, if you check the
rosters of all student organizations you will find Greeks in virtually
every one of them.
Greeks are also committed to community service. Last year alone,
Greeks raised over $65,000 for various charities. This is in addition to
the many dollars raised by Greeks for non-Greek programs, such as
Carolina Cares, which is heavily supported by Greeks. Fraternities and
sororities also make many non-monetary contributions to charity, such
as blood drives for the Red Cross.
As you can well see, Mr. Fancjher's comments are somewhat without
foundation and likely the result of unfamiliarity with Carolina's outstanding
Greek system. They are based on stereotypes which are not
nnl<1 innnrra/iJ Kit* ? "? '' ' **
~...j inwi a wtf uui uuviuusiy uie nrsi line oi aeiense for those who for
some reason feel threatened by the success of a very deserving Greek
system.
Mr. Fancher's so called "Horseshoe Living Experience" may have
instructed him the procedures for illegally consuming distilled spirits
during football games, but it certainly seems that he has not gained a
sense of objectivity from it or anything else. Maybe he should return to
the University for four more years to learn the values of scholarship,
leadership, teamwork and success which are perpetuated by Greeks. |
Mike Montgomery
sophomore accounting major I
brother in Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity I
Reader defends J. T.'
To the Editor: reputation will likely weather the
attack, I see no need to go into a
I have considered Lehman Stiles detailed dpfpn?<? ?Kd
A. I "
m
i 1
Horseshoe
"integral part'
of campus
To the Kditor:
This is in reply to all the
Greeks who have been talUna
crap about the Horseshoe
because of Chris Fancher's
letter. I'll tell you people once,
so get it right. Don't mess with
the "Shoe."
We all have differing opinions
about Greeks ? some worse
than others. The Horseshoe is
just as much an integral part of
this University as the Greek
organizations, only we don't
sound off
- - MWUUl l/UI CUII"
tributions.
Sure, Fancher made a few
cheap shots about how Greeks
dress, as if they all shop at the
Greek uniform store, but the
Horseshoe doesn't want to hear
any further noise.
So, all you offended Greeks,
go back to vnnr nrivnfp srv?iAtv
? ? ? I ?J
and let the Independents of the
"Shoe" take care of their own.
Richard Klein
political science junior
Horseshoe president I
s 'Flos'
o
majority of Mr. Stiles' top 10).
In the future, I hope to see more
fine satire by Lehman Stiles. And 1
expect, with great confidence, to
hear many additional excellent
albums by "Sweet Baby James."
L. Michael Mills
GINT senior
ui I.WV niuilV UI lilt;
io ix3 a nne and entertaining writer artist.
and reviewer for several years.
I've especially enjoyed his "Let* xhe blanket implication that
Hand column. Taylor's songwriting talent has
been depleted is hard to swallow. I
However, I feel the recent feel "Flag," like all James Taylor
placement of the James Taylor albums, achieves a plateau of
"Flag" album in his worst 10 of musical expertise, vocal sen1979
catecorv was orosslv
w ? 0 j o.hyiiy, ctnu mematic and poetic
Since no specific criticisms were insight which few other artists
offered, and James Taylor's have reached (including the vast